Bulb cleaner



R. DE YOUNG Dec. 3,. 1935.

BULB CLEANER Filed April 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l fiz'ekardfiel bwrz BULB CLEANER Filed April 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l I 35g I I I 0 Qttnrntgs.

Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a machine designed primarily for use in cleaning bulbs, particularly gladiola bulbs.

An important object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character so constructed that bulbs may be deposited in a main feed trough, from where they will be fed into a cleaning trough, the cleaning trough being so constructed that the roots of the bulbs will be broken therefrom, as the bulbs move throughout the length of the cleaning trough.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means to compensate for the variation in the size of the roots of the bulbs passing through the machine, to the end that bulbs may be deposited in the machine, without the necessity of asserting or classifying the bulbs.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bulb cleaning machine of this character which will be power operated, and which will feed the cleaned bulbs to a container or other suitable place of deposit.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and'arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the body portion, which is indicated generally by the reference character 5, is in the form of a table or bench, the top indicated at 6, being inclined, as clearly shown by the drawings.

An elongated opening 7 is formed in the top 6 of the table, and provides a passageway whereby the roots, which have been removed from the bulbs, may pass from the machine to a suitable container located directly under the opening I.

Secured to the top 6, are spaced bearing blocks 8, which bearing blocks are formed with bearings to accommodate the stripping rolls 9, which operate in proximity to each other, and rotate in opposite directions, the action of the stripping rolls being to feed the roots therebetween, pulling the roots from the bulb-s, as the bulbs pass through the machine.

The bearing blocks 8 are formed with elongated openings that accommodate slidable bearings 25, in which the shaft of one of the rolls 9 is mounted, there being provided coiled springs 26 that engage the slidable bearings and insure the rolls being held in operative relation with each 10 other.

Mounted on one end of one of the rolls 9, is a pulley l0, while at the opposite end of the opposite roll, is a pulley ll. Associated with the rolls 9, is a power shaft l2, which is provided with a pulley I3 at one end thereof and a pulley I4 near the opposite end. This shaft I2 is rotated through the medium of the motor l5 which is supported directly under the top of the table, the motor being supplied with a pulley l 6. A pulley I! is mounted on one end of the power shaft and receives motion from the motor, through the belt [8.

A belt indicated at l9 transmits movement from the pulley 13 to the pulley ID, the belt I9 being crossed so that the rolls to which the pulleys l0 and l l are connected, will rotate in opposite directions.

Power is transmitted from the power shaft I2, to the opposite roll 9, through the medium of the belt 29 that operates over the pulleys II and I4.

Directly above the rolls 9, is a trough 2| which has an opening formed in the bottom thereof and extended throughout the entire length of the trough, the opening being located directly over the rolls so that the roots of the bulbs passing through the trough 2| will extend through the opening and be engaged by the rolls which pull the roots from the bulbs.

As shown, the upper end of this trough 21 is spaced a greater distance from the rolls than the lower end of the trough, so that the larger roots will have ample space to pass into the rolls.

The reference character 22 designates a feed trough that is supported by means of the bars 23, the forward end of the feed trough resting directly over the ,upper end of the trough 2 I, there being provided an opening 24 at the lower end of the feed trough, through which the bulbs drop to the trough 2|.

A discharge spout 21 communicates with the trough 2!, at one side of the rollers 9 and at the lower end of the trough, and provides a discharge to allow the bulbs to pass from the trough, from where they are deposited in a suitable receptacle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, bulbs may be deposited in the feed trough 22 and the motor rollers operating in opposite directions and disposed under the opening of the main trough, means for mounting one of the rollers for lateral yieldable movement, a' discharge spout extending downwardly and having communication with the trough through one side of the trough, one of said rollers only, operating over the open upper end of the spout, an inclined feed trough having closed ends, positioned above the main trough overlying one end of the main trough and having an opening in the bottom thereof whereby material may be fed into the main trough, and means for operating the rollers.

RICHARD DE YOUNG. 

